surfing is not just a sport, but also a philosophy of life. Athletes who excel in the art of taming the waves become legends, immortalized not only for their dexterity on a board, but also for their personal narratives, extraordinary feats and cultural impact;
That’s why we’ve put together a complete list of the 20 best surfers of all time! We’ll show you who they are, from the pioneers of the sport to the youngest. These surfers leave a legacy that goes beyond titles and trophies, inspiring future generations to seek out their own adventures on the waves;
From the sunniest beaches of Hawaii to the icy peaks of Australia, each surfer carries with them a unique story of determination, triumph and, sometimes, personal challenges.
This journey promises not only to celebrate the spirit of surfing, but also to honor the heroes who made it a global phenomenon! Get ready to meet the 20 best surfers of all time!
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The 20 best surfers of all time: complete list
- Duke Kahanamoku
- Kelly Slater
- Layne Beachley
- Andy Irons
- Lisa Andersen
- Tom Curren
- Mark Richards
- Stephanie Gilmore
- Mick Fanning
- Sally Fitzgibbons
- Gabriel Medina
- CJ Hobgood
- Carissa Moore
- Joel Parkinson
- Fernando Aguerre
- Sofía Mulánovich
- Tom Carroll
- Caroline Marks
- Shaun Tomson
- Rell Sunn
The 20 best surfers of all time: all about the athletes
1. Duke Kahanamoku
- Titles: 5-time Olympic Swimming Champion.
- Team: None, surfed independently.
- Curiosities: He popularized surfing all over the world; he was a Hawaiian cultural ambassador.
- Life story: Born in 1890 in Hawaii, Duke was a versatile athlete who, as well as being a surfer and swimmer, also worked as an actor and politician.
- Record: He set numerous swimming records throughout his career.
- Politics: None registered.
2. Kelly Slater
- Titles: 11-time World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Várias, incluindo Quiksilver, Channel Islands Surfboards, e Firewire Surfboards.
- Curiosities: Slater is the youngest surfer to win the world championship and also the oldest.
- Life story: Born in 1972 in Florida, he showed exceptional surfing talent from an early age.
- Record: The surfer with the most world titles in the history of the sport.
- Politics: Involved in some controversies with other surfers and organizations.
3. Layne Beachley
- Titles: 7x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Rip Curl.
- Curiosities: She is the only woman in history to win seven world titles.
- Life story: Born in 1972 in Australia, she overcame adversity to become one of the world’s greatest surfers.
- Record: The most successful surfer in terms of world titles.
- Polemics: Few, but she faced challenges as a woman in a predominantly male sport.
4. Andy Irons
- Titles: 3x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Billabong.
- Curiosities: Known for his aggressive style and captivating personality.
- Life story: Born in 1978 in Hawaii, Irons was a natural talent, but faced personal struggles throughout his career.
- Record: Three times world champion in a highly competitive period of surfing.
- Politics: He struggled with mental health problems and drug addiction, which eventually contributed to his premature death.
5. Lisa Andersen
- Titles: 4x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Quiksilver.
- Curiosities: She revolutionized women’s surfing with her daring style and technical skills.
- Life story: Born in 1969 in the United States, Andersen overcame family difficulties to become one of the best surfers of all time.
- Record: Four times world champion, setting a standard for future generations of female surfers.
- Politics: He has faced personal challenges, but there have been no major controversies in his career.
6. Tom Curren
- Titles: 3x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Rip Curl.
- Curiosities: Known for its fluid and elegant style.
- Life story: Born in 1964 in the United States, Curren has been a surfing legend since the 80s.
- Record: Three times world champion in an era dominated by surfing greats.
- Politics: Little recorded, Curren has always maintained a positive image in the sport.
7. Mark Richards
- Titles: 4x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Lightning Bolt.
- Curiosities: He was one of the first stars of professional surfing.
- Life story: Born in 1957 in Australia, Richards has left a lasting legacy in sport.
- Record: Four times world champion, setting the standard for modern surfing.
- Politics: Few, Richards was known for his exemplary sporting ethics.
8. Stephanie Gilmore
- Titles: 7x World Surfing Champion.
- Team: Roxy.
- Curiosities: One of the most dominant surfers of the modern era.
- Life story: Born in 1988 in Australia, Gilmore quickly stood out as an unstoppable force in surfing.
- Record: Seven times world champion, demonstrating exceptional consistency and skill.
- Politics: Gilmore is respected as much for her surfing skills as for her behavior outside the waves.
9. Mick Fanning
- Titles: 3x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Rip Curl.
- Curiosities: He survived a shark attack during a live competition.
- Life story: Born in 1981 in Australia, Fanning is known for his determination and surfing skills.
- Record: Three times world champion, despite facing adversity throughout his career.
- Politics: Few, Fanning is respected as much for his surfing skills as for his friendly personality.
10. Sally Fitzgibbons
- Titles: 0x World Surfing Champion (as of the date of this article).
- Equipe: Rip Curl.
- Curiosities: Olympic athlete and professional surfer, known for her versatility.
- Life story: Born in 1990 in Australia, Fitzgibbons is one of the top competitors on the world circuit.
- Record: Although she hasn’t won a world title, Fitzgibbons has consistently ranked among the best surfers in the world.
- Politics: Few, Fitzgibbons maintains a positive image in the sport.
11. Gabriel Medina
- Titles: 2x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Rip Curl.
- Curiosities: First Brazilian to win the world surfing championship.
- Life story: Born in 1993 in Brazil, Medina is one of the rising stars of world surfing.
- Record: Twice world champion, showing exceptional skill and determination.
- Politics: Medina is known for his competitive and sometimes controversial style.
12. CJ Hobgood
- Titles: 1x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Globe.
- Curiosities: He shares the world title with his twin brother, Damien Hobgood.
- Life story: Born in 1979 in the United States, Hobgood is a respected figure in professional surfing.
- Record: Once world champion, standing out in a consistent and respectable career.
- Polemics: Few, Hobgood is known for his sporting ethics and respect for his opponents.
13. Carissa Moore
- Titles: 4x World Surfing Champion.
- Team: Roxy.
- Curiosities: First woman to receive a wild card to compete in a stage of the men’s World Tour.
- Life story: Born in 1992 in the United States, Moore is a dominant force in women’s surfing.
- Record: Four times world champion, demonstrating exceptional consistency and skill.
- Polemics: Few, Moore is admired as much for her surfing skills as for her gentle personality.
14. Joel Parkinson
- Titles: 1x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Billabong.
- Curiosities: Known for his smooth style and technical skill.
- Life story: Born in 1981 in Australia, Parkinson is a respected figure in professional surfing.
- Record: Once a world champion, standing out in a career marked by consistency and technical excellence.
- Politics: Few, Parkinson is admired as much for his surfing skills as for his behavior off the waves.
15. Fernando Aguerre
- Títulos: Presidente da International Surfing Association (ISA).
- Curiosities: Instrumental in the inclusion of surfing in the Olympic Games.
- Life story: Born in Argentina, Aguerre is a leading figure in the development of surfing as a global sport.
- Record: His legacy is in the expansion and popularization of surfing around the world.
- Politics: Some, especially in relation to political issues within international surfing.
16. Sofía Mulánovich
- Titles: 1x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Roxy.
- Curiosities: First Peruvian to win a world surfing title.
- Life story: Born in 1983 in Peru, Mulánovich is an inspiration to surfers all over the world.
- Record: Once a world champion, paving the way for other Latin American surfers.
- Politics: Few, Mulánovich is respected as much for her surfing skills as for her commitment to social causes.
17. Tom Carroll
- Titles: 2x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Quiksilver.
- Curiosities: Known for his powerful and fearless style.
- Life story: Born in 1961 in Australia, Carroll has been a surfing legend since the 80s.
- Record: Twice world champion, leaving his mark on an era of great competitors.
- Polemics: Few, Carroll is admired as much for his surfing skills as for his charismatic personality.
18. Caroline Marks
- Titles: 0x World Surfing Champion (as of the date of this article).
- Equipe: Rip Curl.
- Curiosities: Young surfing prodigy, known for her aggressive style.
- Life story: Born in 2002 in the United States, Marks is one of the most promising surfers of the next generation.
- Record: Although he hasn’t won a world title, Marks has excelled in international competitions from an early age.
- Politics: Few, Marks maintains a positive image in sport.
19. Shaun Tomson
- Titles: 1x World Surfing Champion.
- Equipe: Instinct
- Curiosidades: Autor do livro “Surfer’s Code: 12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life”.
- Life Story: Born in 1955 in South Africa, Tomson is a respected figure in surfing and beyond.
- Record: Once world champion, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.
- Politics: Few, Tomson is known for his positive life philosophy and his commitment to the well-being of the planet.
20. Rell Sunn
- Titles: 0x World Surfing Champion (there was no official women’s championship during her career).
- Curiosities: Known as the “Queen of Makaha”, Sunn was a pioneer of women’s surfing.
- Life story: Born in 1950 in Hawaii, Sunn overcame adversity and became an inspiration to surfers all over the world.
- Record: Her legacy lies in breaking down barriers for women in surfing and her dedication to preserving the ocean.
- Politics: Few, Sunn is remembered with affection and respect for her contribution to the sport.
The 20 best surfers of all time:
- Duke Kahanamoku
- Kelly Slater
- Layne Beachley
- Andy Irons
- Lisa Andersen
- Tom Curren
- Mark Richards
- Stephanie Gilmore
- Mick Fanning
- Sally Fitzgibbons
- Gabriel Medina
- CJ Hobgood
- Carissa Moore
- Joel Parkinson
- Fernando Aguerre
- Sofía Mulánovich
- Tom Carroll
- Caroline Marks
- Shaun Tomson
- Rell Sunn
The 20 best surfers of all time
This is the list, then, of the 20 best surfers of all time! From Duke Kahanamoku to Rell Sunn, each of these athletes is an inspiration, not only for their achievements in the sea, but also for their remarkable life stories and contributions to the global surfing community;
Since you’ve made it this far, keep exploring the site to find out more about surfing and numerous other sports. See lists, articles, news and profiles of the greatest athletes and much more!
